f
storm. Lee Merryvale might sweat over his orange grove and swear at his
workers, Ellen might lead out the whole settlement in a mad orgy of
whitewashing, but no one expected anything disturbing from Hertha. Tom,
once, painstakingly reading through a collection of poems acquired by
Ellen in her school days as a prize, found the lines that suited the
lady of his home; for, to Tom, Hertha was not only sister but queen.

"And hers shall be the breathing balm,
And hers the silence, and the calm
Of mute, insensate things."

CHAPTER II

In a week Tom was going away to school. It should not come as a
surprise, Ellen repeatedly told him, for she had from time to time
apprised him of the approaching fulfilment of her plans; but Tom had
rested, like Hertha, in the present moment, believing, too, that Ellen's
plans might go astray. This, however, was little likely to take place,
for in his older sister he dealt with a general, intelligent,
resourceful, and with a contempt for the enemy, poverty. Her efforts had
at length secured a scholarship, and four years of savings were to be
expended for traveling and necessary clothes. The rest depended upon Tom
who would be equipped to go out and do his share in gaining an
education.

"Surely," Ellen said at the supper-table when the announcement of the
final arrangements was made, "you know I'm right, Tom, and that a
colored boy needs an education more than a white boy."

Aunt Maggie wiped her eyes. "We sure need Tom," she said.

The older sister looked around the table, at Hertha's sad face, at Tom's
sullen one, at her mother's tears, and for a moment felt the severity of
the coming catastrophe; but for a moment only. Emotion soon gave place
to reasoned thought.

"Tom has a right to an education," she said solemnly. "If he doesn't
learn a trade at school he never will learn one, and we shouldn't keep
him here no matter how much we shall need him and miss him."

Aunt Maggie rose. "You don' know what it means," she said, "to part a
mudder f'om her only son." Her rich voice sounded with a certain
finality as though, while appreciating Ellen's power, she wished her to
understand her responsibility. "You's taken a deal upon you'self." And
she left her children and went into her room.

Tom and Hertha slipped out of doors. In time of trouble they always got
away from the house, and now in silence they made their way to the
river.

It was a hot night in lat